Japanese word

三枚

Pronunciation

Romajisanmai

Meaning

  • nounthree sheets

Example

紙を三枚ください。kami o san mai ku da sa i

Please give me three sheets of paper.

Illustration for 三枚 (three sheets)

More examples

旅行の写真を三枚選びました。ryo kō no sha shin o san mai era bi ma shi ta

I selected three travel photos.

Core concept

Expresses three individual flat objects, while the kind of object is understood from the context.

Common phrases

  • 三枚くださいsan mai ku da sa i

    three sheets, please

  • 三枚の紙san mai no kami

    three sheets of paper

  • 三枚の写真san mai no sha shin

    three photos

Definition in Japanese

紙や板など、平たい物を三つ数える語。kami ya ita na do hira ta i mono o mit tsu kazo e ru go

Word origin

三枚 (sanmai) is formed from 三 (san, "three") and 枚 (mai, "flat-item counter"), so the expression means three items counted by 枚.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 枚 (mai) covers paper, clothing, dishes, and tickets, which makes it broader than the English word "sheet".

Other meanings

  • three piecesnoun

Word lists with this word